Optical Design of Two Dimension Compound Parabolic Solar Thermal Concentrator

The idea of concentrating solar thermal energy is an area that has received significant attention in recent years. In this study, a design model for a two dimension compound parabolic solar thermal concentrator (CPC) is theoretically analyzed. The maximum acceptance angle, the concentration ratio, the concentrator area of reflector and number of reflections have been calculated by using equations which are simulated in MATLAP program. After that the total absorbed solar radiation by CPC with three different glass covers, flat plate solar thermal collector at normal incidence and flat plate solar thermal collector at tilt angle 60o has been calculated for seven months from September to March depending on the data of solar radiation for Baghdad. The results indicated that the acceptance angle ranging from (78.8) to (84.3) for the entrance aperture width values in the range (0.6-1.6)m for 0.1m height. The enhancement in the absorbed solar radiation at solar noon for CPC which about 120%, 141%, 151%, 153%, 152%, 146% and 131% in comparison to flat plate at normal incidence for September, October, November, December, January, February and March respectively.